Chapter 70

Zhang Wei and the others came to the bedside and handed all the money they had to Zheng Butcher.

Zheng Butcher, clutching a large wad of bills, was moved to tears and kept saying, "Thank you, Zhang Wei. You are all out of work and not well-off at home. You have already helped me a lot, and I can't burden everyone anymore."

Zhang Wei and the others spoke in a chorus, "Master Zheng, saving your wife is the most important thing. If it's not enough, we will raise more."

Zheng Butcher returned the money to Zhang Wei and the others one by one, his eyes brimming with tears, and said gratefully, "Thank you all, really, it's not necessary. Director Chu has already paid for the surgery. Mother Xiao Min can have the operation soon."

Zhang Wei walked over, grabbed Chu Tianshu's hand, and said excitedly, "Thank you, good brother."

Chu Tianshu waved his hand and said, "Since we are brothers, why be so formal? Besides, the money wasn't from me; I just helped someone else contribute a bit of love."

The surgery was quickly prepared, and Zhang Wei and a few others, along with the nurses, pushed Zheng's mother into the operating room.

Zheng Butcher and Zheng Xiaomin waited outside the operating room.

Xiang Wanqing quietly pulled Chu Tianshu aside and said, "Chu Tianshu, do you want to kill me?"

"What's wrong? How did I harm you?" Chu Tianshu was puzzled by her sudden question and looked at her with a confused expression.

Xiang Wanqing looked at the departing figures of Zhang Wei and the others and asked, "They are laid-off workers from the instrument factory. I saw them at the scene of the disturbance. Zheng Xiaomin's parents are also, right?"

Finished! Exposed!

Chu Tianshu's mind buzzed, and he tried to remain calm, asking, "Wanqing, is there a problem?"

"The station has conveyed a new gag order from the propaganda department. To maintain social harmony and stability, all media are required to suspend reporting on anything related to the instrument factory in the near future. Chu Tianshu, fortunately, the program hasn't aired yet, or I would have been ruined by you." Xiang Wanqing's tone was both accusatory and relieved.

"Wanqing, what do you mean?" Chu Tianshu was secretly alarmed, sensing from Xiang Wanqing's words that she might abandon the program.

"Do you still not understand? Hurry up and explain to the station and pull the program. Although time is tight, it's still possible to change the content at the last minute." Xiang Wanqing took out her phone, ready to make a call.

Chu Tianshu snatched her phone.

"What are you doing?" Xiang Wanqing was angry and lunged to grab the phone back.

"Wanqing, listen to me." Chu Tianshu dodged and forcibly pulled Xiang Wanqing to the end of the corridor.

Xiang Wanqing angrily demanded, "Chu Tianshu, it's obvious that you are very familiar with them. Did you deliberately hide this from me?"

Chu Tianshu nodded, "Yes."

Xiang Wanqing demanded, "What do you want to do?"

"Use you, use the power of the media, use you as my accomplice to help Zheng Xiaomin."

"Use me? You actually admit to using me?" Chu Tianshu's frankness made Xiang Wanqing even angrier; the feeling of being deceived was unbearable.

To her surprise, Chu Tianshu admitted it to her face.

"Yes, I did plan to use you from the beginning."

It was utterly outrageous.

Xiang Wanqing couldn't help but shout, "Chu Tianshu, do you know what it feels like to be used? Aren't you worried that I'll be fired by the station? Aren't you afraid I'll take revenge on you?"

"Scared! Very scared! But please calm down. I'm not trying to harm you; I'm trying to protect you."

"You... How can you be so shameless? You're clearly trying to ruin me, and you say you're protecting me. Do you want me to be grateful to you? Seriously, Chu Tianshu, do you think you're the only smart person in the world, selling others and making them count the money for you?"

"Wanqing, please don't get so worked up."

"Why shouldn't I get worked up? Chu Tianshu, you are too unreasonable."

"Wanqing, listen to me explain..."

"I don't want to hear your explanation. Give me my phone back." Xiang Wanqing snatched the phone back.

Chu Tianshu grabbed Xiang Wanqing's arm to stop her from making the call, staring at her intently.

Xiang Wanqing felt pain in her arm.

"You're hurting me." Xiang Wanqing was intimidated by Chu Tianshu's actions and tone, and she spoke softly.

Chu Tianshu let go but didn't release her arm.

At this moment, Bai Yunduo appeared behind them, coughed, and teased, "Hey, what are you two doing, hiding in the corner and pulling each other?"

"Nothing, just talking about some private matters." Chu Tianshu said awkwardly.

"Private matters?" Bai Yunduo smiled and said, "You said we are both your wives. What private matters do you have to hide from me? I think it's not private matters but private feelings."

Xiang Wanqing smiled bitterly, "Yunduo, I'm about to be ruined, and you're still making things worse."

Bai Yunduo's eyebrows shot up, "What? Who dares to harm you? I'll tear them apart."

Xiang Wanqing pointed at Chu Tianshu, "Him!"

Bai Yunduo said with a grin, "No way, how could he harm his own wife?"

Xiang Wanqing waved her hand and said loudly, "Yunduo, please, don't make things worse. Fortunately, I discovered it early, or I would be dead by now."

Seeing that Xiang Wanqing was not joking, Bai Yunduo stared at Chu Tianshu, "Is that true? How did you harm Wanqing?"

When the two beauties joked, they could be ruthless and unyielding, but when it came to serious matters, they would automatically stand together.

Chu Tianshu quickly said, "No, it's a misunderstanding. I'm trying to explain to her."

With an ally, Xiang Wanqing finally had a place to vent her grievances. She said with red eyes to Bai Yunduo, "It's not a misunderstanding. He admitted it himself. He has been deliberately deceiving and harming me from the beginning."

Bai Yunduo, hands on her hips, asked menacingly, "Is that true?"

Chu Tianshu said, "There is a process, but it's not as she says."

"What's going on? Explain it to me clearly." Bai Yunduo, straightforward, rubbed her hands anxiously, looking back and forth between Chu Tianshu and Xiang Wanqing.

"She wants to cancel the program." Chu Tianshu pointed out the result directly.

"Why?" Bai Yunduo asked in surprise, "Wanqing, that's not right. Not only will Tianhu be upset, but I will be too."

Xiang Wanqing was unhappy, "Yunduo, why are you siding with him without even asking what happened?"

Bai Yunduo was firm, "Sisterhood is one thing, but principles are another. No matter what, if you cancel the program, I have to side with him."

Xiang Wanqing cried out, "Oh, you two are driving me crazy."

At this moment, Zheng Xiaomin walked over. Seeing the three of them with serious faces, she asked timidly, "Brother Chu, Sister Qing, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing," Chu Tianshu, fearing that Zheng Xiaomin would suspect something, quickly said, "We were... talking about Director Zhu, so we got a bit angry."

Xiang Wanqing didn't want to discuss the program in front of Zheng Xiaomin and forced a smile, asking, "Xiaomin, how is your mom?"

Zheng Xiaomin said, "The surgery has started. I asked the doctor, and it will take a few hours. My dad and some colleagues are watching over her. He asked me to come and invite you all for dinner."

Bai Yunduo said, "Xiaomin, no need to be so formal. After your mom's surgery, she will need continuous 24-hour care for several days. Don't worry about us. Get some rest, and don't tire yourself out."

"Okay, Doctor Bai, I'm fine." Zheng Xiaomin nodded obediently and then asked Xiang Wanqing excitedly, "Sister Qing, when is the program airing tomorrow? I can't miss it."

Xiang Wanqing didn't know how to answer.

Chu Tianshu said, "Xiaomin, your main task now is to take care of your mom. Don't worry about the program. When it airs, Sister Qing will record it on a disc for you, and you can watch it anytime. Now, let's go back and discuss the program. You go and arrange dinner for your dad and the uncles."

"Okay." Zheng Xiaomin skipped away. After all, she was just a 20-year-old girl. With the surgery fee settled and future treatment costs secured, her originally troubled mood lightened, and she became much more lively.

Bai Yunduo said, "It's not convenient to talk here. Let's go outside."

Unable to resist Bai Yunduo's persuasion and pulling, Xiang Wanqing had to follow her out of the hospital.

Bai Yunduo led Chu Tianshu and Xiang Wanqing to a teahouse outside the hospital, booked a private room, and ordered a few snacks, a pot of Tieguanyin tea, and a pot of chrysanthemum tea.

After the server brought the snacks and tea, Bai Yunduo told her not to disturb them. As soon as the server left, she couldn't wait to ask, "Tell me, what's going on?"

"Ask him." Xiang Wanqing glared at Chu Tianshu and said, "Chu Tianshu, don't waste time. For Yunduo's sake, I'll give you ten minutes. If you can't give me a reasonable explanation, I'll call the station and have the program canceled. Also, you must promise to tell the truth, not lies. I've had enough of your unreliable behavior."

"Alright," Chu Tianshu looked at Bai Yunduo and smiled helplessly, "Wanqing, to save time, I won't go into my initial thoughts. Let's think about it in a different way. Do you agree?"

"What way?"

"Reverse thinking." Chu Tianshu didn't wait for Xiang Wanqing's agreement and said, "That is, let's assume the program is canceled and see what consequences might occur. Then, let's see what would happen if it's not canceled. Finally, we can decide whether the program should be canceled."

Bai Yunduo poured tea into their cups and watched with interest as they discussed.

Xiang Wanqing took a sip of tea and said, "Okay, go ahead."

Chu Tianshu also took a sip of tea and said, "Alright, let's start by analyzing what consequences would occur if the program is canceled."